Abstract: A RAID storage controller storage-device-assisted data update system includes a RAID storage controller device coupled to a host system and RAID storage devices in a “look aside” RAID storage controller device configuration. Based on command(s) from the RAID storage controller device, a first RAID primary data storage device may perform a first DMA operation to access first primary data stored on the host system, and write the first primary data to its first buffer subsystem. The first RAID primary data storage device may then perform a first XOR operation using the first primary data stored in its first buffer subsystem and second primary data stored in its first storage subsystem in order to produce first interim parity data, and write the first interim parity data to its second buffer subsystem. The first RAID primary data storage device may then update the second primary data with the first primary data.

Abstract: A RAID storage-device-assisted parity data update system includes a first RAID primary data drive that DMA's second primary data from a host system, and XOR's it with first primary data to produce first interim parity data for a first data stripe. A second RAID primary data drive DMA's fourth primary data from the host system, and XOR's it with third primary data to produce second interim parity data for a second data stripe. A first RAID parity data drive DMAs the first interim parity data and XOR's it with first parity data to produce second parity data for the first data stripe that overwrites the first parity data. A second RAID parity data drive DMA's the second interim parity data and XOR's it with third parity data to produce fourth parity data for the second data stripe that overwrites the third parity data.

Abstract: A RAID parity data generation offload system includes a RAID storage controller device that determines that a RAID parity data storage device loading for a RAID parity data storage device exceeds a loading threshold, and then generates and transmits a RAID parity data generation offload command associated with a RAID parity data update required in response to a RAID primary data update. A first RAID primary data storage device receives the RAID parity data generation offload command, and then retrieves current parity data from the RAID parity data storage device, and performs an XOR operation using the current parity data, current primary data, and updated primary data associated with the RAID primary data update in order to generate updated parity data. The first RAID primary data storage device then provides the updated parity data for storage on the RAID parity data storage device in place of the current parity data.

Abstract: A RAID storage-device-assisted deferred parity data update system includes a RAID primary data drive that retrieves second primary data via a DMA operation from host system, and XOR's it with first primary data to produce first interim parity data, which causes a RAID storage controller device to provide an inconsistent parity stripe journal entry in the host system. The RAID primary data drive then retrieves third primary data via a DMA operation from the host system, XORs it with the second primary data and the first interim parity data to produce second interim parity data. A RAID parity data drive retrieves the second interim parity data via a DMA operation, and XORs it with first parity data to produce second parity data that it uses to overwrite the first parity data, which causes the RAID storage controller device to remove the inconsistent parity stripe journal entry from the host system.

Abstract: A RAID storage-device-assisted data update system includes a RAID storage controller coupled to first RAID storage devices each including respective first RAID storage subsystems. Each first RAID storage devices receives a command from the RAID storage controller that identifies a second RAID buffer subsystem as a target memory location and, in response, retrieves respective first RAID storage device data from its respective first RAID storage subsystem and performs DMA operations to provide that first RAID storage device data on the second RAID buffer subsystem. A second RAID storage device that includes the second RAID buffer subsystem and a second RAID storage subsystem receives a command from the RAID storage controller and, in response, performs an XOR operation using the first RAID storage device data in the second RAID buffer subsystem to produce update data that it stores in its second RAID storage subsystem.

Abstract: A RAID storage-device-assisted unavailable primary data/Q data rebuild system includes a RAID primary data drive that receives a RAID storage controller device command and DMA's first primary data to a RAID parity data drive. The RAID parity data drive receives a RAID storage controller device command and XORs its first parity data, the first primary data, and its second primary data to produce third primary data that it writes to its storage subsystem. The RAID parity data storage device then receives a RAID storage controller device command and performs GF and XOR operations on the first primary data, the second primary data, and the third primary data to produce second Q data, and DMA's the first Q data to a RAID Q data drive. The RAID Q data storage device receives a RAID storage controller device command and writes the first Q data to its storage subsystem.

Abstract: An autonomous RAID data storage system includes a RAID storage controller device that communicates with RAID data storage devices in order to configure them to perform direct command operations with each other. A first RAID data storage device receives a multi-step command from the RAID storage controller device and performs a first subset of operations associated with the multi-step command, while also performing direct command operations with a second RAID data storage device in order to cause it to perform a second subset of operations associated with the multi-step command, When the first RAID data storage device completes the first subset of operations and receives a first completion communication from the second RAID data storage device that indicates that the second subset of operations are completed, it sends a second completion communication to the RAID storage controller device that indicates that the multi-step command is completed.

Abstract: A scalable RAID storage controller device system includes a host system coupled to a switch device by first and second NTB subsystems, first and second RAID storage devices connected to the switch device and provided in respective data storage device chassis having a storage device form factor, and first and second RAID storage controller devices connected to the switch device and provided in respective storage controller device chassis having the storage device form factor. The first RAID storage controller device executes commands received via the first NTB subsystem from the host system for a first RAID data storage system that it provides with the first RAID data storage system, and the second RAID storage controller device executes commands received via the second NTB subsystem from the host system for a second RAID data storage system that it provides with the second RAID data storage system.

Abstract: A RAID storage-device-assisted RMW system includes a RAID primary data drive that retrieves second primary data via a DMA operation from a host system, and XOR's it with its first primary data to produce first interim parity data that it writes via a DMA operation to a RAID parity data drive. The RAID parity data drive XOR's its first parity data and the first interim parity data to produce second parity data that overwrites the first parity data. The RAID parity data drive also performs GF operations on the first interim parity data and its second interim parity data and XOR's the results to produce interim Q data that it writes via a DMA operation to a RAID Q data drive. The RAID Q data drive XOR's its first Q data and the interim Q data to produce second Q data that overwrites the first Q data.

Abstract: An autonomous RAID data storage device locking system includes first RAID data storage device(s) that store data included in a data stripe, and that are coupled to a second RAID data storage device. The second RAID data storage device receives a command to perform a data update operation on a subset of data included in the data stripe, and transmits a locking request to each first RAID data storage device. When the second RAID data storage device receives a locking confirmation that indicates that each first RAID data storage device is locked, it completes the data update operation on the subset of data included in the data stripe. The second RAID data storage device then transmits an unlocking request to each first RAID data storage device to cause them to unlock, and transmits a completion communication that indicates that the data update operation has been performed.

Abstract: A RAID data storage device multi-step command coordination system includes a RAID storage controller device that generates and transmits a first multi-step command that includes a barrier instruction, and a second multi-step command that includes a notification instruction. A first RAID data storage device receives the first multi-step command, identifies the barrier instruction in the first multi-step command and, in response, pauses performance of first multi-step command. A second RAID data storage device receives the second multi-step command, identifies the notification instruction in the second multi-step command and, in response, transmits a notification to the first RAID data storage device. While pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, the first RAID data storage device determines that the notification has been received and, in response, resumes the performance of the first multi-step command.

Abstract: A RAID storage multi-step command system includes a RAID storage system coupled to a RAID storage controller device. The RAID storage controller device identifies a RAID storage system configuration of the RAID storage system and, based on the RAID storage system configuration, generates a first multi-step command definition file for a first RAID storage device in the RAID storage system, and transmits it to the first RAID storage device. The first multi-step command definition file defines first steps that each include first operation(s). Subsequent to transmitting the first multi-step command definition file, the RAID storage controller device generates a first multi-step command that references the first multi-step command definition file and includes first parameter(s) for use in performing each first operation(s) included in the first steps defined by the first multi-step command definition file, and transmits the first multi-step command to the first RAID storage device.

Abstract: A distributed RAID storage-device-assisted data rebuild system includes a first RAID data storage device, provided in response to data unavailability, that retrieves respective first data for a first data stripe from each of the other RAID data storage devices, performs an XOR operation on the respective first data to generate first rebuilt data for the first data stripe, and stores the first rebuilt data as part of the first data stripe. A second RAID data storage device retrieves respective second data for a second data stripe from third RAID data storage devices, performs an XOR operation on the respective second data and third data for the second data stripe stored on the second RAID data storage device to generate second rebuilt data for the second data stripe, and provides the second rebuilt data for storage on the first RAID data storage device as part of the second data stripe.

Abstract: A RAID data storage device multi-step command coordination system includes a RAID storage controller device that generates and transmits a first multi-step command that includes a barrier instruction, and a second multi-step command that includes a notification instruction. A first RAID data storage device receives the first multi-step command, identifies the barrier instruction in the first multi-step command and, in response, pauses performance of first multi-step command. A second RAID data storage device receives the second multi-step command, identifies the notification instruction in the second multi-step command and, in response, transmits a notification to the first RAID data storage device. While pausing the performance of the first multi-step command, the first RAID data storage device determines that the notification has been received and, in response, resumes the performance of the first multi-step command.

Abstract: A RAID parity data generation offload system includes a RAID storage controller device that determines that a RAID parity data storage device loading for a RAID parity data storage device exceeds a loading threshold, and then generates and transmits a RAID parity data generation offload command associated with a RAID parity data update required in response to a RAID primary data update. A first RAID primary data storage device receives the RAID parity data generation offload command, and then retrieves current parity data from the RAID parity data storage device, and performs an XOR operation using the current parity data, current primary data, and updated primary data associated with the RAID primary data update in order to generate updated parity data. The first RAID primary data storage device then provides the updated parity data for storage on the RAID parity data storage device in place of the current parity data.

Abstract: An autonomous RAID data storage device locking system includes first RAID data storage device(s) that store data included in a data stripe, and that are coupled to a second RAID data storage device. The second RAID data storage device receives a command to perform a data update operation on a subset of data included in the data stripe, and transmits a locking request to each first RAID data storage device. When the second RAID data storage device receives a locking confirmation that indicates that each first RAID data storage device is locked, it completes the data update operation on the subset of data included in the data stripe. The second RAID data storage device then transmits an unlocking request to each first RAID data storage device to cause them to unlock, and transmits a completion communication that indicates that the data update operation has been performed.

Abstract: A scalable RAID storage controller device system includes a host system coupled to a switch device by first and second NTB subsystems, first and second RAID storage devices connected to the switch device and provided in respective data storage device chassis having a storage device form factor, and first and second RAID storage controller devices connected to the switch device and provided in respective storage controller device chassis having the storage device form factor. The first RAID storage controller device executes commands received via the first NTB subsystem from the host system for a first RAID data storage system that it provides with the first RAID data storage system, and the second RAID storage controller device executes commands received via the second NTB subsystem from the host system for a second RAID data storage system that it provides with the second RAID data storage system.

Abstract: An autonomous RAID data storage system includes a RAID storage controller device that communicates with RAID data storage devices in order to configure them to perform direct command operations with each other. A first RAID data storage device receives a multi-step command from the RAID storage controller device and performs a first subset of operations associated with the multi-step command, while also performing direct command operations with a second RAID data storage device in order to cause it to perform a second subset of operations associated with the multi-step command, When the first RAID data storage device completes the first subset of operations and receives a first completion communication from the second RAID data storage device that indicates that the second subset of operations are completed, it sends a second completion communication to the RAID storage controller device that indicates that the multi-step command is completed.

Abstract: A distributed RAID storage-device-assisted data rebuild system includes a first RAID data storage device, provided in response to data unavailability, that retrieves respective first data for a first data stripe from each of the other RAID data storage devices, performs an XOR operation on the respective first data to generate first rebuilt data for the first data stripe, and stores the first rebuilt data as part of the first data stripe. A second RAID data storage device retrieves respective second data for a second data stripe from third RAID data storage devices, performs an XOR operation on the respective second data and third data for the second data stripe stored on the second RAID data storage device to generate second rebuilt data for the second data stripe, and provides the second rebuilt data for storage on the first RAID data storage device as part of the second data stripe.

Abstract: A data mirroring system includes a primary computing device with a primary memory system, a primary storage system, and a primary communication system. The primary computing device writes data to the primary memory system, copies the data from the primary memory system to the primary storage system, and transmits the data using the primary communication system. A secondary computing device is coupled to the primary computing device, includes a secondary memory system, a secondary storage system having a secondary buffer subsystem and a secondary storage subsystem, and a secondary communication system. The secondary computing system receives the data at the secondary communication system, performs a remote direct memory access operation to write the data to the secondary buffer subsystem such that the data is not stored in the secondary memory system, and copies the data from the secondary buffer subsystem to the secondary storage subsystem.